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BARRE – A Woodbury man will lose his right to hunt, fish and trap for one year following his court conviction for shooting Canada geese on his property with a high-powered pellet rifle, Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials said.

John Fricke, 56, also was assessed a $264 fine in Vermont Superior Court in Barre as part of his conviction, wardens said.

Game wardens charged Fricke with taking game by unlawful methods following an anonymous tip placed to Operation Game Thief.

The call indicated one goose was floating dead in Nelson Pond, said Col. Jason Batchelder, the department's chief game warden. He said wardens found a second severely injured goose that needed to be euthanized.

The one-year license suspension extends to 43 other states under the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact.

Fricke, who pleaded no contest to the charge, stated he only intended to scare the geese away and had no intention of killing them, wardens said.

"We work to protect Vermont's wildlife and fish," Batchelder said in a news release. "Our partnership with private citizens ensures that these resources are conserved for all Vermonters."

Migratory waterfowl are also protected by federal regulations.

Homeowners who are facing problems with Canada geese are urged avoid harassing or harming the birds. They are urged to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control Unit in Berlin at 223-8690.

With the increased number of Canada geese nesting in Vermont, there has been more showing up on golf courses, beaches, lawns, and other places close to people, department spokesman John Hall said.

Residents who wish to report a wildlife crime may contact Operation Game Thief by calling 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378) or online at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Tipsters may choose to remain anonymous. Rewards are paid for information leading to an arrest.

The reward program provides a way for people to help protect Vermont's wildlife by reporting wildlife law violators without using their name.